Coke oven



May 28,1929.

J. VAN ACKEREN COKE OVEN I Filed April 13, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT R.

A TTORNEYS.

May 28, 1929. VAN ACKEREN COKE OVEN Filed April 13, l926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 um \n I M ,Gbduu ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,714,934 PATENT orrlcn.

JOSEPH, VAN ACKEREN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR EEO THE KOPPEBS COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COKE OVEN.

My invention. comprehends improvements of general utility in the coke oven art and also comprehends certain improvements especially applicable to coke ovens of the well known cross regenerative type exemplified in. the patent to Koppers, 818,033, granted April 17, 1906. 1

In prior ovens of the latter type in which each heating wall is provided with vertical combustion flues communicating through regulatable ports at their tops with a horizontal flue for transferring the products of combustion from the up-flow flue in one half of the wall to the down-flow flues in the other half of the wall, that portion of the heating wall lying above the tops of the vertical flues and in which the ports and horizontal fines are located operates ata materially re duced temperature, usually several hundred degrees F., below that of the wall portion adjacent the vertical lines in which combustion is taking place. This is because of the presence of flame in the latter flues whereas the flame is snuffed out at the ports passing 'into the lhorizontal flue and therefore the re- "gion of the wall adjacent the horizontal flue and ports are heated by the products of combustion only with the resultant drop in wall temperature indicated. It follows that the coal chargein the oven chamber adjacent the port and horizontal flue is coked more slowly than in the region adjacent the vertical lines and black spots are apt to occur in the former region, necessitating either a longer coking period than is required for the main portion of the charge or less efficient coking inthat region results.

If, as has been proposed, the port for each fine is divided into three sections, one a central regulatable portion similar to, though smaller than, the usual port, and two side portions each extending along the side of the oven chamber in the plane of and for the full extent of the flue side below it, the side portions of the port'being made of such width as to maintain in conjunction with the central portion the aggregate port area of the same order of magnitude as where a single central port is employed, then the side portions of the port must be so narrow as to snuff out the flame, permitting only the products of combustion from the vertical flue below to pass through, and coking in the region of the chamber adjacent the ports and horizontal fine is materially retarded. Also,

Application filed April 13, 1926. Serial No. 101,671.

to regulate them by sliding bricks or the like and therefore the attempt must be made in building'the battery to give them fixed di-& mensions respectively such asto approximate the necessary regulation required to meet conditions of operation which can only be definitely determinedenipiricallyafter. the oven is bui t. Owing to the difficulty in calculating the proper relative widths of such narrow side portions of the respective ports in advance of empirical data, the difliculty in imparting exact dimensions in fixed brickwork to such narrow openings, and owing to the variations in operating conditions, ade quate regulation of such a construction becomes impracticable.

I overcome allof the difiiculties encountered in the priorart practices hereinbefore enumerated by suspending, as it were, my horizontal flue in the tops of or passing it through the vertical flues of a heating wall and by employing only a single port between each vertical flue and its horizontal flue located preferably in the top of the latter rather than in its bottom as has heretofore been the practice. Since my horizontal flue is enveloped by my vertical flue and is independent of any other part of the wall structure I can make its cross-sectional. area as great as desired merely by lowering its bottom, or making it deeper, and am thus able to draw in its sides to provide as wide spaces in the adjacent portion of the vertical flue as is necessary to insure the passage of flame. It follows that combustion can takeplace throughout the entire height of the vertical fine and no dark spots will be formed in the oven chamber in the region of the horizontal flue. Also, since the products of combustion pass through asingle regulatable port directly below and in line with the inspection passages. permitting intelligent adjustment of the sliding brick, I am able to regulate the heat intensity to any desired degree in accordance with the conditions actually found to exist. I have thus removed the horizontal flue whose heating effect it is impossible to regulate from its position in the prior art contiguous to the coking chamber and have isolated it altogether therefrom and effect the heating of the wall in this region, instead,

by prolongation of the flue itself which in my system is entirely regulatable throughout its extent. I further provide for the regulation to be effected outside rather than inside the horizontal flue whereby interference with the flow in the horizontal flue is avoided. This I am able to accomplish because by my special arrangement of vertical and horizontal flues it is possible to locate the sliding bricks employed for regulation in the top of the vertical flues and over the port leading into the horizontal flue, whereas in prior practice it was necessary to locate said bricks in the horizontal flue itself.

My invention has the further material advantage that' it effects a substantial strengthening of'the heating wall. Inprior oven constructions of the t 'pe hereinbefore indicated the horizontal ue constituted an element of essential weakness in the wall structure since it comprised a passageway of large cross-sectional area passing through the entire length of'the wall above the tops of the vertical heating flues therein without intermediate braces or supports. By dropping the horizontal flue from a position above the vertical flues to a position in which it passes through the tops of the latter and through the partitions separating the individual flues, while at the same time narrowing and deepening the horizontal flue, I in effect afford a supporting brace for the horizontal flue comprising the interlocking bottle bricks which make up each vertical flue partition, the partitions extending from the main portions of the heating wall entirely around and supporting the horizontal flue, somewhat analogous in effect to a cross-braced girder, thus tying together the walls of the horizontal flue and those of the vertical flues. Moreover, since the heating effect of the horizontal flue is no longer relied upon for coking its sides may be made as thick internally as necessary for adequate strength, its bottom being lowered to maintain the desired crosssectional area, the effective wall thickness of the horizontal flue becoming substantially the combined thickness of its own wall and that of the outer walls of the vertical flues supplemented by the truss-like connection walls and coking chambers to a greater height, a material consideration in present day practice.

As a further feature of my invention I 10- cate openings normally substantially closed by removable plugs, in which are provided sight openings, in the bottom of the llOl'lZOIlta-l flues and respectively in alignment with the ports in the tops and with the gas nozzles in the bottoms of said flues whereby removal of the plugs will permit replacement of the nozzles.

In addition to the general features and objects of the invention abov'e recited the invention has such other improvements or advantages in construction and operation as are found to obtain in the structure and devices hereinafter described or claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention specifically to such illustrative instance or instances:

Figure 1 is a vertical section transverse of the battery through a heating wall and re generator chamber on the line l1 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a composite longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the battery on the lines A and B respectively of Fig. 1,

Fig.3 is a partial transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 showing in detail the upper portion of the flues, the horizontal flue and inspection passages,

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing in detail the same features in transverse section, and

Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal section on the lines 5-5 of Figs. 3 and 4.

The same characters of reference indicate the same parts in each of the several views of the drawings.

In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the invention is incorporated in a combination coke oven battery of the well known Koppers type.

Referring to the drawings there are illus trated'views of -a coke oven battery or plant of this type comprising a plurality of crosswise elongated heating walls 11 and a plurallty of intermediate crosswise elongated vertical coking chambers 12 beneathv which are the usual heavy supporting or pillar walls 13 and regenerator chambers 14 communicating with the fines of the heating walls through the ducts 15. There are also provided coke oven gas ducts 16 communicating through nozzles 1'4" with the ducts 18 leading to the flues of the heating walls, it being understood that the oven is operable alternativelv, on producer gas introduced through the appropriate regenerators of the regenerative system or by coke oven gas introduced through the ducts 16. i

Each heating wall 11 is provided with a plurality of vertical combustion flues 20 communicating at their tops with a horizontal flue 25 which conveys the burnt gases from the up-fiow fines on one side of the oven battery to the down-flow fines on the opposite side as shown in Fig. 1 and as is well understood in the art. 1

My invention involved herein, however, differs radically from prior art practice in the manner in which the horizontal flue 25 in each heating wall is connected to the vertical fines 20 and the manner in which the horizontal and vertical flues are related to each other and to the wall structure proper. In prior practies the vertical flues in each heating Wall terminated just below the horizontal flue and each vertical fine was connected thereto by a port or ports in the bottom of the horizontal flue. These ports would necessarily not per mit of the passage of flame because of their limited cross-sectional area and the fact that it was undesirable to have flame in the horizontal flue itself since the heating effect of the latter could not be regulated. In my improved construction I in effect continue my vertical fines upwardthrough the region formerly occupied by the horizontal flue alone and in effect suspend the horizontal flue withinthe tops of my verticalfiues, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2and 4. This I accomplish by bridging the horizontal flue between the end walls of the respective vertical flues, free flue spaces 21 of sufficient width and cross-sectional area being provided at the sides of the horizontal flue to permit of the passage of fiame-livithout its being extinguished. The fine spaces 21 merge into a similiar free'fiue space 22 above the horizontal fine. Communication between the tops of the vertical fines and the horizontal flue is preferably obtained through ports 26 located in the top of the horizontal flue, and not in its bottom as in prior practice. I also prefer to employ adjustable sliding bricks 27 located in the tops of the vertical fines for regulating the port openings, the ports and sliding bricks being respectively in alignment with the several inspection or access flues 30, to facilitate regulation. In the bottom of the horizontal flue I preferably provide inspection and access plugs 31, corresponding in number to the number of vertical fines. These plugs are preferably normally provided with inspection openings 32. The access flues 30, port 26, access and inspection plug 31, and gas nozzles 17 are preferably in substantial vertical alignment whereby it is possible by removing the plug 31 to remove and replace the nozzles 17 to regulate the gas flow or for other purposes.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the horizontal flue 25 has been removed from its position in the prior art in the heating wall above the tops of the horizontal fines where it introduces an element of weakness in the wall structure, as hereinbefore set forth, and has been narrowed, deepened and dropped down into the upper portions of the vertical fines themselves where it ceases enconditions from top to bottom of the heating wall.

In the operation of the oven the combustible gases are burnt in the vertical fines on one side of the battery the products of combustion passing into the horizontal flue across to the other side of the battery and down the vertical fines on that side. Smce the central portion of the horizontalfiue must transfer the gases for a greater numberof fluesthan' its end portions the velocity in the center of said fiue must be materially greater than at its ends which would very deleteriously affect the regulation of the individual fines were not very accurate regulating means for each vertical flue provided. This regulation, however, in my system can be veryreadily and accurately accomplished by adjustment of the respective sliding bricks 27 to effect regulation of each individual flue in accordance with the actual conditions observed at the time. heating wall is heated by the vertical-fines only and since these fiues are continuous from top to bottom and permit the presence of .flame throughout, I can by appropriate regulation effect the desired degree of heat distribution over the entire heating surface of the wall which is impossible where the heating is done in part by the horizontal flue which cannot be regulated. The location of.

the sliding bricks in the top of the vertical fines also has the distinct advantage over pior constructions where it was located in the horizontal fine that it does not restrict the cross-sectional area of the latter and thereby impede flow therethrough or cause eddies which give rise to poor regulation. My simplified construction also results in a great increase in wall'strength and permits me to carry the vertical flue much higher than in ordinary constructions which in turn enables me to make the coking chambers of greater height, a very important consideration in modern coke oven practice. The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in a particular form of construction, but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

1. In a coking oven, or the like, in combination: coking chambers alternating with heating walls; each heating wall being pro- Since the entire coking surface of a vided with vertical combustion fines and a 'horizontalfiue in each heating wall passing through the upper portions of and communieating with said vertical fines in the same wall therewith; regenerators adapted to serve the vertical fines on one half of each of the heating walls as up-fiow fines; and other regenerators adapted to ,serve the vertical Y fines on the other" half of each of the heating walls as down-flow fines simultaneously with upfiow' in the first mentioned half of each of said heating walls.

2. In a coking oven, or the like, in combination: coking chambers alternating with heating walls; each heating wall being provided with combustion fiues and a connecting or end flue in each heating wall passing through and communicating with said combustion fiues in the same wall therewith at one end portion of the said combustion fines; regenerators adapted to serve the combustion fines in one half of each heating wall as inflow fines; and other regenerators adapted to serve the combustion fiues in the other'half of each heating wall as ont-fiow fines simultaneously with inflow in the first mentioned half of each of said heating walls. 1

3. In a coking oven, or the like, having coking chambers alternating with heating walls; one of said heating walls provided with vertical fines and a horizontal fine passing through the upper portions ofand connnunieating with said vertical fines.

4. In a coking oven, or the like, having coking chambers alternating with heating walls; one of said heating walls provided with heating fines and a common connecting or end fine passing through one end portion of and communicating with said heating fines.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3,

' in which the fines in one half of the heating wall are adapted to serve as up-fiow fines and those in the other half of the heating wall are adapted to serve as down-flow fines simultaneously with npfiow in the first-mentioned half of the heating wall.

6. The combination as defined in claim 4,

in which the fines in one half of the heating wall are adapted to serve as in-flow fines and those in the other half of the heating wall are adapted to serve as out-flow fines simultaneously with inflow in the first mentioned half of the heating wall.

7. The combination as defined in claim 3, in which the horizontal flue is entirely surrounded in a plane transversely thereof by a vertical fine.

- 8. The combination as'defined in claim 4, in which the end fine is entirely surrounded 1i ln a plane transversely thereof by a heating 9. The combination as defined in claim 3,

in which said vertical fines communicate with the horizontal flue at points in the horizontal fine remote from the bottom of the latter.

10. The combination as defined in claim 4,

in which said heating fines communicate with the end flue at point in the end fine remote horizontal fiue through ports in the top side of the latter.

12. In a coking oven, or the like, having coking chambers alternating with heating walls; one of said heating walls provided with heating fines and a common connecting or end fine passing through one end portion of and entirely surrounded in a plane transversely of said end flue by said heating fines; the'heating fines communicating with the end flue thronghports on the side of the latter remote from the main body portions of the former.- v

13. In a coking oven, or the like, having coking chambers alternating with heating walls; one of said heating walls provided with vertical fines and a horizontal fine passing through the upper portions of and en tirely surrounded in a plane transversely of said horizontal fine by said vertical fines; the vertical fines communicating with the horizontal flue through regnlatable ports in the top side of the latter; and means for regulating said ports.

14. In a coking oven, or the like, having coking chambers alternating with heating walls; one of said heating walls provided with heating flues and a common connecting or end fiue passing through one end portion of and entirely surrounded in" a plane transversely of said end fine by-saidheating fines; the heating'fiues communicating with the end flue through regulatable ports on the side of the latter remote from the main body portion of the former; and means for regulating said ports. 7

15. In a coking oven, or the like, in combination: a heating wall provided with vertical fines and a horizontal fine passing through and communicating with the upper end portions of said vertical fines; and means located in the vertical fines for regulating the degree of flow through said vertical fines and the horizontal fine.

16. In a coking oven, or the like, in combination: a heating wall provided with combustion fines and a connecting or end flue passing through and communicating with the combustion fines at one end portion thereof;

and means located in the combustion flues for regulating the degree of flow through said combustion flues and the connecting or end flue.

17 In a coking oven, or the like, in combination: a heating wall provided with vertical combustion flues and a horizontal flue passing through the upper portions of and being entirely surrounded, in planes transversely thereof, by each vertical combustion flue; vertical access flues extending from the outside'of the oven to and communicating with the combustion flues at the tops thereof, the top of said horizontal flue being provided with ports affording communication with the tops of the vertical combustion flues; the bottom of said horizontal flue being provided with plug openings in turn provided with plugs; and gas nozzles in the bottoms of said vertical combustion flues; the respective access flues, ports, plug openings and nozzles being in substantal vertical alignment with each other.

18. In a-coking oven, or the like, in combination: a heating wall provided with combustion flues and an end flue passing through one end portion of and being entirely surrounded, in planes transversely thereof, by

each combustion flue; access flues extending from the outslde of the oven to and communieating with the combustion flues, the side of said end flue remote from the main body portions of the combustion flues being provided with ports affording communication with wall provided with vertical flues, the individual flues being separated by partition walls transversely of said heating wall; and a horizontal flue structure passing through the upper portions of said vertical flues and said partition walls and supported by the latter.

2(). In a coking oven, or the like: a heating wall provided with heating flues, the individual flues being separated by partition walls transversely of said heating wall; and an end or connecting flue structure passing through one end portion of said heating flues and said partition walls and supportedby the latter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH VAN AGKEREN. 

